GCN Radio

GCN's weekly podcast features music, issue discussion, and interviews with guests. Listen to any show by clicking below, or subscribe in iTunes or with our XML feed.

New Season 2013-2014

December 19, 2013Unconditional Parents. Jennifer and Gordie Krogh run a Side B ministry for parents whose children have come out to them. This week, hear their advice for both LGBT children and their parents, and learn why they believe unconditional love is so important.

December 5, 2013A Progressive Christian Approach. In this interview from the final days of her work at the Institute for Welcoming Resources, UCC minister and Side A Christian leader Rebecca Voelkel reflects on her time there and discusses how her experience growing up in a progressive church gave her a passion for social justice.

November 13, 2013For Tyler. In 2010, America was captivated by the tragic story of Tyler Clementi, a gay college freshman who died by suicide after being publicly humiliated by his roommate. This week, his mother Jane Clementi joins Justin to talk about grief, loss, and moving on.

2012-2013 Season

August 7, 2013Transparently Transgender. Trans Christian Lisa Salazar, author of Transparently: Behind the Scenes of a Good Life, discusses her struggles to accept herself as transgender and the Bible passages that gave her hope.

August 1, 2013Tyler and Yakko?Tyler Connoley, co-author of The Children Are Free, returns to the show with questions for Justin and conversations about Justin's long-lost nickname and where to find hope in the modern church.

July 3, 2013Pretending to Be Gay. Justin talks to Tim Kurek, a straight Christian man who made headlines for spending a year pretending to be gay and writing a book about the experience. Was it a good decision or did he go too far? You be the judge!

June 12, 2013Seventh-Gay Adventists. Filmmakers Daneen Akers and Stephen Eyer discuss their documentary about gay people in the Seventh-day Adventist Church and the stories that motivated them as a straight couple to care about LGBT issues.

June 5, 2013Spiritual But Not Religious. Pastor Lillian Daniel discusses her new book, When "Spiritual But Not Religious" Is Not Enough, tackling topics ranging from when prayer feels like a burden to how she responds to the claim that religion causes war and hate.

May 10, 2013The Feud. Justin strikes up a fake feud with Mark Sandlin—pastor, blogger, and co-founder of The Christian Left—after Mark beats Justin in an online competition. Also, the guys discuss the relationship between faith and politics and why so many Christians are reluctant to call themselves "Christians."

May 3, 2013Sports... Or Something. "No-Name" Matt is back! This week, he and Justin discuss the coming out of pro basketball player Jason Collins, debates about gay players in locker rooms, and Justin's total lack of sports knowledge. Also... give Matt a name!

April 26, 2013Ex-Gays and Ex-Ex-Gays. Justin gets passionate as he and Montana Marty discuss this week's breaking news about John Paulk, one of the most famous ex-gay "success stories" of the past. This is a show you may want to share with anyone you know who thinks ex-gay therapy works.

April 12, 2013Homophobia-phobia?Brandon Ambrosino says he was a gay student at Liberty University, but his experience wasn't the horror story most people would expect. This week, he shares why he spoke out, and why he thinks we shouldn't be so quick to judge one another.

March 29, 2013Does Jesus Really Love Me? Author Jeff Chu's new book describes his pilgrimage to learn how Christians of all sorts see homosexuality. Find out what happened when he went to both Westboro and a gay church... and what Justin thinks about the way he's portrayed in the book!

March 22, 2013Samantha Hasty-Zander. GCN's office manager was raised by carnival workers before attending Liberty University as a gay Christian. This week, she discusses her vision for GCN's women's ministry and strategies for having difficult conversations without resorting to verbal violence.

March 8, 2013Justin's "Oasis" Keynote. What's the line between truth and love, between doctrine and legalism? In this humorous, thought-provoking sermon, Justin Lee explores those questions at the 2013 GCN conference.

March 1, 2013A Year of Biblical Womanhood. Popular author and blogger Rachel Held Evans discusses her new book A Year of Biblical Womanhood, the state of modern evangelicalism, and her tips for aspiring bloggers. Also... a stuffed turkey?

February 22, 2013The Westboro Perspective. Is it possible to actually learn something from the Westboro protesters about dealing with conflict? GCN Justin and Montana Marty discuss. Also, hear a cool story about God's work in Grand Rapids... and a ridiculous email!

December 28, 2012I've Been There. Special guest Justin Ryan joins GCN Justin in the studio to discuss his singing career, "hair through the ages," and a story guaranteed to make you gasp. This episode will make you laugh and cry; don't miss it!

Previous Episodes

December 18, 20102010 Finale. In the final show of 2010, Justin and Matt delve into the serious and the silly: Is everyone really bisexual? Should Christians be allowed to discriminate? Are Sunday School teachers nuts? Chime in on these and many other issues!

November 19, 2010The Choir. Members of the Grammy-nominated, Dove Award-winning Christian rock group The Choir join Justin to discuss their career, the Christian music industry, and a controversial lyric on their new album that some perceive as too gay-friendly. (Plus, hear Justin geek out. He's a huge fan.)

November 12, 2010Generous Spaciousness. Matt and Justin return to discuss Christian perspectives on Halloween and recent listener comments, and guest Wendy Gritter talks about how to provide space for dialogue and disagreement in the midst of a culture war.

October 29, 2010Good News Well Written. We've all heard of the King James Bible, but who was King James, and is it true that he was gay? While Justin's in Texas rehearsing for the GCN musical, GCN Radio presents a classic talk by Dr. Ralph Blair about everything you never knew about the King James Bible.

October 22, 2010Ashamed of Christianity. Are you ashamed of Christianity? Listeners respond to Juliet's comment from last week's show about being agnostic in the face of Christian bigotry. Also, Justin and Matt comment on news from the Boy Scouts and a church losing thousands of members because of its stance on gay issues. Find out why this week!

August 20, 2010Brian's Last Show. On long-time GCN Radio co-host Brian's final show, listeners from around the world share their feelings about the show and Brian and Justin discuss how to know when God is calling you to do something special.

August 13, 2010Letting Go. Hear the music and story of Grammy-nominated, Dove Award-winning singer/songwriter Jennifer Knapp as she answers questions about her career, her spiritual journey, and her experience of coming out as a lesbian.

July 30, 2010Justin Keynote 2010. In his 2010 keynote at the Gay Christian Network conference, Justin discusses the "mountaintop experience" and what we are called to do in our daily lives as Christians.

July 16, 2010What Do We Want? Brian makes an important announcement; listeners respond to recent shows; Justin asks what LGBT Christians really want straight Christians to do to prove their compassion.

July 2, 2010Founding Exodus.Michael Bussee, one of the original founders of the largest ex-gay organization in the world, discusses how it came to be, why he left, and what he thinks needs to change in the "ex-gay" world.

June 25, 2010YouTube. Meet Joe, a gay Christian teen on YouTube, and hear how support from GCN helped him in his transition from a closeted young Catholic to an out and proud video blogger. Also, listeners respond to the Dignity show, and Justin asks a question about Courage.

June 18, 2010Ling Lam. Hilarious and thoughtful Ling Lam, Board Chair of The Gay Christian Network, shares his story of coming to America, finding himself, and finding God. Also, hear his thoughts on ex-gay ministries, coping with loss, and making relationships work.

June 11, 2010Catholic Dignity. Hear Marianne Duddy-Burke, executive director of DignityUSA, an organization for LGBT Catholics, as she talks about the situation in the Roman Catholic Church and how her organization is seeking to make change.

June 4, 2010Christians Who Love. Brian and Justin answer listener mail, including a letter from a 91-year-old fan, and discuss difficult situations with families, GCN's mini-conference details... and spicy chicken.

May 28, 2010Uganda. Hear Moses, a gay Christian from Uganda, as he shares his firsthand stories about the dangers faced by gay people in that country and how American Christians are involved. Also, listeners respond to Tony Campolo and other recent GCN Radio shows.

May 21, 2010Tony Campolo Keynote. Renowned author and minister Dr. Tony Campolo shares his thoughts on gay Christians, same-sex marriage, and the state of the church in this address at the 2010 Gay Christian Network conference.

May 14, 2010Spam and Scandal. Can gay actors convincingly play straight? Why do we get so much spam? Aaron and Justin discuss these questions and several hot controversies of the day, including a follow-up from last week's rentboy scandal.

May 7, 2010The Rekers Controversy. Brian and Justin discuss news about George Rekers, the conservative Christian caught with a young gay prostitute; listeners share their thoughts on past episodes and other topics; Justin talks about a YouTube video he found recently and why it moved him.

April 30, 2010Mary Lou Wallner. A Christian mother whose lesbian daughter committed suicide, discusses the events leading up to her daughter's tragic death and how it motivated her to help combat homophobia among parents across the country.

April 23, 2010Jack Rogers. Jack Rogers, former moderator of the Presbyterian Church USA and author of Jesus, the Bible, and Homosexuality: Explode the Myths, Heal the Church, discusses how studying the Bible changed his mind about the morality of gay relationships.

April 16, 2010Peggy Campolo. This week, a powerful show as Peggy Campolo, a Christian activist for LGBT causes and wife of influential evangelical pastor Dr. Tony Campolo, tells the incredible story of how God changed her life and brought her to be a voice of hope for so many people...and what she sees as the future for Side A and Side B in the church.

April 9, 2010Catholic Scandal. After something "breaks," Brian and Justin debut a new intro for the show, discuss the new season and an upcoming Side B book, and react to the sexual abuse scandal in the Roman Catholic Church.

March 26, 20102010 Teaser. Welcome to a new season! In this special 2010 teaser episode, Brian and Justin talk about the upcoming season of GCN Radio and play a fun song that dares to imagine GCN as a cola.

December 4, 2009Comment-a-thon. Aaron and Justin answer a huge batch of listener mail on topics such as the "other side" of the ex-gay debate, when outing your kids is okay, the GCN Top 10, and much more!

November 27, 2009Derek Webb. Christian singer-songwriter Derek Webb made his name as part of Dove Award-winning band Caedmon's Call, and now is known for his own powerful solo work. Find out why his latest album has stirred up controversy and why he cares so much about the gay community.

November 20, 2009Wesley Hill. Justin goes to England and meets with Wesley Hill, a celibate gay Christian. The two discuss coping with loneliness, changing the church, and what it means to be "Side B."

November 13, 2009Anne Rice. She was an atheist, famous for her novels about vampires, including Interview with the Vampire and The Vampire Lestat. So why is she now writing novels about Jesus and angels instead? What is God doing in her life? And what does she think about gay people, including her novelist son Christopher? Find out this week!

November 6, 2009Misty Irons. She's a married, straight, evangelical Christian. So why is blogger Misty Irons so concerned about gay rights? This is an episode you'll want all your friends and your whole family to hear.

October 31, 2009Kori Ashton. Christian singer Kori Ashton used to sing at ex-gay events; now she's performing at the GCN conference! This week, hear about her Christian faith, her inspirational music, and how God has worked in her life.

October 23, 2009Late Bloomer. GCN Radio listener Judy joins Brian and Justin to tell her story and talk about what it's like to come out later in life.

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October 16, 2009Losing Relevance? Is the church losing relevance in our modern culture? This week, listeners chime in on their opinions about what's happening to the church, and Brian and Justin discuss ways to stop a negative trend.

October 9, 2009At GCN HQ.Aaron has been working for GCN for 8 months now, so this week he comes on the show to provide some insight into what it's like working for The Gay Christian Network, and to help Brian and Justin respond to listener comments.

September 25, 2009Rick Brentlinger. Author Rick Brentlinger discusses his conservative Christian past, his book Gay Christian 101, and why he believes the Bible does not condemn same-sex relationships.

September 14, 2009Lutheran Changes. Guest Ross Murray is on the show from Lutherans Concerned to explain how recent decisions in the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America will affect the LGBT community. Also, listener Travis writes in to ask a deeply personal question.

August 7, 2009Pride and Prejudice. Back from the UK, Justin talks about his travels; Brian and Justin respond to listener comments and questions on topics like "Is gay 'pride' a sin?" and "Should I transition if my family is prejudiced against transgender individuals?"

June 26, 2009Shawn Thomas. Gay Christian singer/songwriter Shawn Thomas travels with his music ministry to churches around the country. This week, he shares his life and music, telling what brought him to be so open about his faith even when it might cost him the approval of others.

June 19, 2009The Next Generation. Instead of a regular show this week, Justin presents a "blast from the past," featuring a humorous keynote he delivered in 2005 called "GLBT Christian Ministry: The Next Generation."

June 12, 2009Fruit of the Spirit. Brian and Justin discuss current events at GCN and some personal news about Justin; then, a discussion ensues about Galatians and the "fruits of the Spirit," including important advice for those who may be feeling far from where God wants them to be.

June 5, 2009Homosexianity.Pastor Romell Weekly, author of the new book Homosexianity, talks about how Bible study helped him accept his sexuality, and the difficult process of coming out to his congregation. Also, listeners chime in on recent shows.

May 29, 2009New Direction.Wendy Gritter was leading a prominent "ex-gay" ministry in Canada, but she lost friends and funding when her ministry changed its direction and began focusing on building bridges between gays and Christians instead. Find out why she did it, and hear our listeners (passionately!) weigh in on the Chi Alpha controversy we discussed a few weeks ago.

May 22, 2009Straight Spouse. You've heard the story of Ray Boltz, the Christian music star who came out of the closet. Now hear the other side of the story. Carol Boltz, Ray's wife, was shattered when she learned her husband was gay. This week, hear how she picked up the pieces and what she has to say to others in similar situations.

May 8, 2009Chi Alpha. A controversial show this week! Chris Donohoe, a student at Cornell University, petitioned the school to pull funding from a campus Christian group when they removed him from leadership over his sexuality. Did he stand up for what's right, or did he go too far? You tell us!

April 10, 2009The Evangelical Network.Todd Ferrell, president of The Evangelical Network, discusses the state of evangelicalism today and predicts what the future holds for gays in the evangelical community.

April 3, 2009Diet Homosexuality? Brian returns from his short break, Justin responds to a recent ex-gay article attacking Side B relationships, and GCN Office Manager Nate K shares about current events at the GCN office.

March 13, 2009Through My Eyes. Special guest Michelle Friesen, one of the Christians interviewed for GCN's new documentary Through My Eyes, tells her story and what it was like to see herself in the film.

February 20, 2009Gay Bishop. Bishop Gene Robinson, the only openly-gay bishop in the Episcopal Church, has become known as the "gay bishop" because of the controversy surrounding his ordination. Hear his response to questions about his faith and the state of the church today, and find out why Justin thinks Christians need to take action.

December 12, 2008Sixpence.Leigh Nash, lead singer of pop band Sixpence None the Richer, is on the show to discuss the group's Christian roots, their breakup and reuniting, and their new Christmas album! (We've made this show available in a higher-quality stereo version for all the fans!)

November 14, 2008A Mother's Book.Carrol Grady, author of My Son, Beloved Stranger, tells about being a conservative Christian mother with a gay son and how her struggle to understand led to a powerful book.

November 7, 2008Fagbug. When Erin Davies' car was vandalized with the word "fag," she took it on a cross-country trip to spark discussion about homophobia in our society. Hear her story and what our listeners have to say about being Christians in the closet.

October 24, 2008Ray Boltz Comes Out. Dove Award-winning Christian music artist Ray Boltz ("The Anchor Holds," "Watch the Lamb") tells his story of struggling with his own sexuality and eventually coming out as a gay Christian.

May 30, 2008Listeners Speak Out. In a follow-up to last month's "Breaking the Silence" episode, GCN Radio listeners speak their hearts and minds to finally break the silences in their own lives and the lives of their LGBT Christian brothers and sisters.

May 9, 2008Formerly Ex-Gay.Ann Phillips was a leader in the ex-gay movement, heading up the women's ministry at one of the most prominent ex-gay Christian ministries in the world. Her story of "becoming straight" has been used by many to "prove" that ex-gay therapy works, yet now she's out of the movement and admits that she's still gay (and Christian!) after all.

April 25, 2008Break the Silence.Warning: This is not a regular GCN Radio episode! This week, the show departs from its usual format and takes a serious turn. Justin takes a day to talk to our listeners, one-on-one, about the National Day of Silence, why it matters, and how we can break the silence. Listen for the way GCN Radio is going to break the silence with your help.

April 18, 2008Christian College. This week, Justin interviews Steve, a gay Christian who spent his entire educational career in conservative Christian schools. Hear about his experience as a gay student at a Christian college in the South where being openly gay could get you expelled!

March 28, 2008Trans Youth.Kim Pearson is executive director of Trans Youth Family Allies, an organization supporting families with transgender kids. This week, Justin talks to Kim and her 16-year-old transgender son Shawn about their experiences and asks them some of our listeners' top questions about trans issues. Meanwhile, Nate... wait? Where's Nate?

March 21, 2008Affirming Church.Pastor Tony of Grace Fellowship in Christ Jesus, an LGBT-affirming church in Dallas, TX, joins Justin and Nate to catch up for the first time since GCN's 2005 Dallas conference. The guys discuss spreading the Good News, working with non-affirming churches, and the threat of violence against LGBT people.

March 14, 2008Listener Mailbag. Listeners offer their thoughts on the Bible, and one listener shares a feat that has Nate questioning his sanity! Also, can gay people have positive same-sex friendships?

March 7, 2008More Big Questions. "Is being gay keeping me from God?" "Why do Christians hide in a 'safe zone'?" "What if I'm not a virgin anymore?" "Why can't I seem to pray?" Special guest Nate K joins the guys to help answer some of the listeners' most important questions.

February 24, 2008Friends. Nate's best friend Jesse is straight and believes gay people should be celibate. But Nate's in a relationship. Find out how their friendship thrives and what our listeners have to say about the friendships in their lives.

December 12, 2007Secrets, Part 2. Last time, Justin and Nate responded to listeners sharing their deepest, darkest secrets. This time, hear even more secrets and the responses in this follow-up episode.

November 23, 2007Secrets, Part 1. This week, listeners anonymously share some of their deepest, darkest secrets in a special hour-long show. Find out what has been weighing on the hearts and minds of GCN Radio listeners and what Justin and Nate have to say in response. Also, lighthearted comments on the show from two past GCN Radio guests!

November 2, 2007Christian Walk. Justin and Nate talk about what it means to have a practical, genuine Christian walk, including discussions of Bible study, prayer, and the pressure to "have it all together." Plus, does Romans 14 mean we have to stay in the closet?

August 10, 2007Jacob, a 15-year-old gay Christian, tells Justin about his experience at the summer camp we discussed last week; plus, meet his mom and hear what listeners have been saying about our recent hiatus.

March 16, 2007Farewell to Brian. This week, a special GCN Radio retrospective featuring memories, listener comments, and clips from some of our favorite shows as we say goodbye to GCN Radio's first producer and co-host.

January 2, 2007New Year! Straight Christian guest Andrew Marin discusses his efforts to build bridges with the LGBT community through the foundation he started; call-in listeners chime in on a variety of topics.

November 24, 2006Obsessed with Sex?: The Responses. Brian and Justin discuss recent developments in Baptist and Catholic positions on homosexuality; listeners chime in on a host of issues, includng the debate about whether gay culture is obsessed with sex!

November 10, 2006Zakiya calls herself a "triple minority," facing sexism, racism, and homophobia. This week, she shares her story and what brought her to God in the midst of prejudice and personal struggle. Also, Brian and Justin discuss recent celebrity outings.

October 9, 2006
The boys have their first repeat guests, pop group Jason and deMarco. Find out what they've been up to since we interviewed them two years ago, and how they respond to their critics in the Christian community.

September 15, 2006Signs, Science, and Sex. Guest Jeramy Townsley discusses the science of sexual orientation; Brian and Justin follow up on more silly church signs; is the gay community obsessed with sex?

August 18, 2006
Pastor Jeff Miner, co-author of The Children Are Free: Reexamining the Biblical Evidence on Same-Sex Relationships, continues the discussion we began two weeks ago about his book and why the Bible is Good News for gay people.

August 11, 2006
No, he's not gay, and we didn't ask his views on gay issues. But singer/songwriter Lee Bozeman is the front man for Luxury, Justin's favorite Christian rock band, and he's on the show this week to talk about Christian music and his own career as one of Christian music's most under-appreciated artists. *** This show is also available in a higher-quality stereo version due to its musical content.

August 4, 2006
What happens when the child of missionaries comes out of the closet, hangs onto his faith, defies gay stereotypes, and writes a book about a pro-gay approach to the Bible? He makes it on GCN Radio, of course. Hear Tyler Connoley's story, co-author of The Children Are Free: Reexamining the Biblical Evidence on Same-Sex Relationships.

June 9, 2006
Listeners respond to our Mother's Day show with some of their own advice and struggles dealing with family; Brian and Justin discuss parallels between the X-Men series and life for the gay community.

April 7, 2006
The boys finally get around to all the listener mail that's been piling up from the past few shows. Our listeners sound off on humor, party-line thinking, positive coming-out experiences, and the Crash vs. Brokeback debate.

March 17, 2006Rev. Troy Perry is the founder of Metropolitan Community Church (MCC), the world's first denomination with a specific focus on the gay and lesbian community. This week, Brian and Justin talk to him about the history and future of the church he started.

February 10, 2006
Season 4 begins! Brian and Justin discuss listener ideas for the new season and chat with special guest Eric, author of "Two World Collision," about the struggle to come to terms with himself as a gay Christian.

December 23, 2005
It's the annual Christmas special! This week, we take a break from our usual format to present Christmas greetings from gay and lesbian Christians and their supporters from around the world. After this episode, we'll be taking a break for a few weeks, to return in late January with a new season!

December 9, 2005
One of our silliest (and most fun) shows this season! Brian and Justin discuss the buzz about hot new movies including Rent, Brokeback Mountain, and the first Narnia film. Also, listeners give their opinions on gay couples holding hands in public.

December 2, 2005
It's a packed show! Brian and Justin discuss the Vatican's recent announcement about gay priests; listeners offer their thoughts on gay stereotypes; and lead singer Mel from Christian rock band Canaan talks about the band's musical journey.

November 4, 2005Dennis is young, Asian, and gay. On this week's show, he talks about what it's like to be a gay youth, why he's still in the closet, and what it is about his family dynamic that complicates the issue. If you're a gay youth, this show is for you!

October 10, 2005
On a special Monday episode, Justin learns how hard it is to run the show when Brian's not around! Meanwhile, Brian interviews Judith Snow, author of How It Feels to Have a Gay or Lesbian Parent.

August 19, 2005
This week, we have a new question, a rather humorous article about Exodus, and information about the upcoming GCN conference. Plus, guest Joshua Alexander talks about making relationships work.